Lem’s latest: Rios, trainer Garcia support children with cancer

Former lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios and his trainer, Robert Garcia, conducted a boxing clinic at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles on Saturday as a benefit to children suffering from cancer.

Rios, whose wife, Vicky, was also present, is an ambassador for the non-profit organization, Padres Contra El Cancer, or, Parents Against Cancer.

Saturday’s event provided information on free health and dental screenings and treatments Although the clinic targeted the fathers of the children and older siblings, all were welcome to the program, which was held in a classroom.

Rios and Garcia discussed the dedication and discipline required for their sport in addition to conducting mini-boxing lessons where mitts were employed.

In his last fight on Oct. 13, Rios scored a seventh-round stoppage of previously unbeaten junior welterweight Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs), who had been the WBO’s No. 1-ranked contender to the belt held by four-division beltwinner Juan Manuel Marquez.

The WBO’s crown became vacant when Marquez (54-6-2, 39 KOs) selected a fourth bout on Dec. 8 against eight-division titleholder Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs), to whom Marquez lost by a highly disputed majority decision in November after having battled to a draw and lost by split-decision previously.

Ranked No. 2 behind Rios by the WBO, Provodnikov is coming off a second-round stoppage of Jose Reynoso in June. The victory represents Provodinkov’s fifth straight, his fourth by knockout during that run, and his second consecutive stoppage win.

“[Rios-Provodnikov] depends on a lot of things, obviously. That’s certainly one of the possibilities,” said Arum. “The other is a fight with Manny, and, so we’ll just explore everything.”

Rios-Alvarado took place on the undercard of a main event featuring a ninth-round knockout by IBF and WBO junior featherweight titleholder Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs) over Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka, whom he dropped twice.

Promoted by Golden Boy, Thompson has not has not lost since falling by split-decision to once-beaten Alisher Rahimov by split-decision in September of 2010.

ABRAHAM HAN STOPS ARSENIO TERRAZAS IN FIRST ROUND

Middleweight Abraham Han, of El Paso, Texas, scored a first round knockout of hard-hitting Arsenio Terrazas, of Mexicali, Mex., on Saturday night before his hometown fans at El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso.

The knockout was the second straight for the 28-year-old Han (18-0, 12 KOs), whose effort dropped Terrazas to 9-3 with eight knockouts.

Sadam “World Kid” Ali (16-0, 10 KOs), a 24-year-old who represented the United States in the 2008 Olympics, scored a second-round knockout over Ronnie “The Natural” Warrior, Jr. (13-8-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“I worked hard for this and I want to thank everybody for this opportunity. I hope I’m eligible to do more television events. The better fighters cost a lot of money and I’m not in that position yet,” said Ali, whose “World Kid Promotions” handled the event.

“I’m trying to get better opponents, but sometimes fights fall out. I’m ready to step up. I want to keep my promotional company going, enhance my career and stay busy. I also want to help other fighters because I know how hard it is getting fights without a promoter.”

Also on the card was cruiserweight Santander “Cha-Cha” Silgado (23-0, 18 KOs), of New York, N.Y., who earned a unanimous decision over Joell Godfrey (15-9-1, 6 KOs), of East St. Louis, Ill, who never has been stopped.

In other fights, middleweight Shawn Cameron (3-0, 2 KOs), of Brooklyn, won a battle of previously unbeaten Brooklyn fighters with a four-round decision over Mamadou Doumbia (1-1), of New York, and Brooklyn bantamweight Jennifer Santiago (2-0) won a four-round unanimous decision over Ivana “Boo Boo” Coleman (0-3).

FERNANDO GUERRERO RETURNS AGAINST J.C. CANDELO ON NOV. 3

Once-beaten middleweight standout Fernando Guerrero (24-1, 18 KOs), who turned 26 on Oct. 12, will pursue his fourth straight victory and his third knockout during that run against Colombian-born Juan Carlos “J.C.” Candelo (32-11-4, 21 KOs), of Baytown, Texas, on Nov. 3 in Humble, Texas, from the Humble Civic Center.

Guerrero, of Salisbury, Md., was last in the ring in July, when he won nearly every round of a unanimous decision over Jose Medina. Guerrero’s only loss was by fourth-round stoppage against Grady Brewer in June of last year.

Candelo is coming off a loss by unanimous decision to Raul Casarez in March that ended his five-bout winning streak that had included three knockouts.

In the co-feature, talented middleweight prospect J’Leon Love (13-0, 7 KOs), of Dearborn, Mich., will face an opponent to be determined.